Working multiple odd jobs to support his eligible bachelorette sister Mimi (Jan Shepard) and overqualified, under-employed father, Danny Fisher (Elvis) is too distracted to graduate from high school. While working as a busboy at one of New Orleans’ kingpin Maxie Field’s (Walter Matthau) numerous joints, he encounters the mobster’s kept mistress—fading singer Ronnie (Carolyn Jones)—and the two spark a dangerous connection. Desperate to stop scraping by, Danny looks for shortcuts to better dough and falls in with hoodlums looking to capitalize on his golden pipes. Dime store angel Nellie (Dolores Hart) falls for Danny and attempts to sell him on a straight life. On the up, he’s handed a steady gig and an opportunity to shake his past—if he can manage to avoid selling his soul to Maxie.
“Intelligent, austere, film noir-ish direction provides the…ideal complement to Presley’s performance as a street hustler who forges himself a magnetic rebel image through his music.” —Verina Glaessner, TimeOut
“Presley’s film career is often remembered for his omnipresent candy-coloured musicals, but there is a special kind of dark magic at work in KING CREOLE…. Of all his films, he considered KING CREOLE his favourite and his best—and who are we to argue with the King?” —Justine Smith, Little White Lies
The Belcourt Theatre does not provide advisories about subject matter or potential triggering content, as sensitivities vary from person to person.
Beyond the synopses, trailers and review links on our website, other sources of information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.